One Battlestar Galactica Cast Member Was Very Unhappy To Be A Cylon

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An ongoing enigma successful "Battlestar Galactica" was nan personality of nan humanoid Cylons. The heroes (and viewers) knew location were 12 unsocial models, but not what (most of them) looked like, which meant location could beryllium Cylons hidden among nan humans. Once nan "Battlestar Galactica" miniseries ended by revealing aviator Sharon "Boomer" Valerii (Grace Park) arsenic a Cylon, each bets were off. Even nan main characters connected "Galactica" could beryllium unknowing double agents.

That particularly came existent successful play 3, which spun a caller enigma astir nan personality of nan "Final Five" Cylons, who were a mobility people moreover to nan different Cylons. Season 3 finale "Crossroads" revealed that 1 of nan Five was nan characteristic slightest suspected to beryllium a Cylon: Colonel Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan), Galactica's crotchety, alcoholic hardass second-in-command. 

At first glance, it was a baffling choice. Tigh had 1 of nan astir defined backstories among nan main cast; a Cylon warfare seasoned and Colonial Navy washout, he'd met Bill Adama (Edward James Olmos) while moving connected a freighter, and they started a decades-long friendship. Tigh besides despised nan Cylons much than anyone successful nan fleet. He'd led nan guidance against them connected nan satellite New Caprica astatine nan opening of nan 3rd season, and he moreover poisoned his ain wife, Ellen (Kate Vernon), for collaborating pinch them.

If fans were disoriented by Tigh being a Cylon, cognize that Michael Hogan was too. Speaking to nan LA Times successful 2009 soon earlier "Galactica" concluded, Hogan said he was "surprised" to study Tigh was a Cylon ... and not successful a pleasant way. "I initially conscionable didn't deliberation it was right," he said, but he kept playing nan characteristic to nan champion of his ability.

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"Battlestar Galactica" was an effort to make a "naturalistic" science-fiction show (as bid co-creator Ronald D. Moore put it), 1 that centered connected quality drama. (Moore had worked connected "Star Trek" and wanted to shirk that show's cliches.) Sometimes, you could hide you were watching a abstraction opera and not a Navy drama. Michael Hogan did while he was playing Colonel Tigh, arsenic he said to nan LA Times:

"Over nan clip of shooting 'Battlestar' I'd often thought, 'Am I ever gladsome I'm not a Cylon,' because it ne'er really occurred to maine while we were shooting it that we were shooting a sci-fi. I conjecture connected different sci-fi shows for illustration 'Andromeda' aliases something, you're very alert that you're doing sci-fi. It ne'er entered successful my investigation pinch 'Battlestar.' It's ever been subject aliases personal."

But while Hogan had his concerns and voiced them, he besides noted that he had antecedently objected to Tigh being connected New Caprica during nan occupation. Tigh is almost defined by his loyalty to Adama, truthful why would he time off Adama's ship? But Tigh being connected New Caprica yet gave Hogan starring roles successful immoderate of nan show's astir unthinkable episodes. So, he approached nan twist of Tigh being a Cylon pinch that successful mind.

It helped, per Hogan, that Tigh was fundamentally already losing his mind by nan clip he learned he was a Cylon. (He spends "Crossroads" plastered drunk.)

"Tigh's been done truthful overmuch pinch his alcoholism and his warfare wounds and having to termination Ellen, aft nan business and what he'd been done location — now they telephone it post-traumatic stress. [...] I treated it much arsenic intelligence illness, almost for illustration schizophrenia. Not conscionable like, 'Oh, I'm a Cylon. What do I do?'"

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The "Battlestar Galactica" writer did not scheme retired successful beforehand which characters were concealed Cylons, and nan full Final Five communicative feels for illustration that measure coming due. Season 2's section "Scattered," showing flashbacks to really Tigh first met Adama? Those were meant to beryllium taken astatine look value. Tigh being a Cylon conscionable doesn't rather quadrate pinch nan characteristic we knew, moreover if Hogan's capacity ne'er dipped beneath excellence.

"Battlestar Galactica" play 4 revealed a convoluted backstory for nan Final Five, and I uncertainty Michael Hogan ever forgot "Battlestar Galactica" was subject fabrication while shooting those scenes. That said, Tigh being a Cylon led to an incredible scene successful nan play 4 section "Revelations," wherever he yet revealed to Adama that he's a Cylon. Adama doesn't want to judge it, and Tigh hates doing it, but he owes his friend nan truth.

Edward James Olmos has nan beingness of a existent subject man, 1 who makes you respect and fearfulness him successful adjacent measure. But aft nan gravel-voiced, steel-eyed Admiral learns his champion friend is not nan man he'd thought he was? He breaks; it's nan only clip we spot him sobbing successful nan series. Was that infinitesimal worthy compromising Tigh's character?

In nan pursuing episode, "Sometimes A Great Notion," Adama bitterly asks if nan Cylons programmed Tigh to beryllium his friend. "Bill, I was your friend because I chose to be," Tigh replies, which sums up Tigh's wide cognition to being a Cylon. Even aft uncovering retired his life is simply a lie, he tries to beryllium nan man he thought he was. 

Still, the second seasons of "Battlestar Galactica" are shakier than nan first two, and it's because twists for illustration Tigh being a Cylon didn't rather land.